Video shows new plan for Balboa Park traffic

Supporters seek city approval next July for $40 million redo of park plazas

The proposed Plaza de Panama project involves building a bypass road, Centennial Bridge, from the Cabrillo Bridge, through the Alcazar Garden parking lot, and on to a new garage south of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
— Plaza de Panama Committee

The proposed Plaza de Panama project involves building a bypass road, Centennial Bridge, from the Cabrillo Bridge, through the Alcazar Garden parking lot, and on to a new garage south of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
/ Plaza de Panama Committee

Three years from now, Balboa Park will be rid of near-clashes between pedestrians and cars in its central plazas. There will be new landscaping and wading pools. And a new garage, topped by new playground space, will provide easy access to visitors.

At least that's what a video, released Monday by the Plaza de Panama Committee, shows.

Yes
66% (499)

No
34% (256)

755 total votes.

The $40 million effort, led by Qualcomm cofounder Irwin Jacobs, is just starting its fund-raising drive and the 10-minute movie is a key element in the pitch, Jacobs told a press conference at the Hall of Champions in the park.

The goal is about $25 million in private funds to be matched by about $15 million in city bonds, backed by a parking charge at the new garage. Jacobs has indicated he would contribute a large portion to meet any shortfall from other donors.

The plan calls for eliminating cars and parking between the San Diego Museum of Man and Museum of Art and turning two spaces, the Plaza de California and Plaza de Panama, into pedestrian-only zones.

A bypass road, called the Centennial Bridge, would divert cars from the Cabrillo Bridge through the Alcazar Garden parking lot and on toward the garage south of the Spreckels Organ.

Once cars are gone, the Plaza de Panama would be redesigned to include two shallow pools, about one inch deep, flanking the formal fountain, currently in the middle of the plaza. The pools would be drained during major events.
— Plaza de Panama Committee

Once cars are gone, the Plaza de Panama would be redesigned to include two shallow pools, about one inch deep, flanking the formal fountain, currently in the middle of the plaza. The pools would be drained during major events.
/ Plaza de Panama Committee

"It's hard to imagine that anyone who watches this video cannot appreciate how truly visionary this plan is," said Mayor Jerry Sanders, who also spoke at the press conference.

There has been little criticism of the removal of cars and parking but a great deal of questioning over the bypass bridge, since it would alter the look of the west side of the park's core, site of the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition.

Jacobs said he hopes the video will allay concerns of most critics, after they weigh the benefits of 6.3 acres of additional park and plaza space against the proposed physical changes.

However, his consultants said they have built extra time into the approval process to allow for any legal challenges that some critics have promised.

The current plan calls for the release in mid-January of an environmental impact report, assessing alternatives to the Jacobs plan. Jacobs reiterated his view that any plan that does not clear all cars and parking from the central park core would likely have to proceed without his financial backing.

A series of city boards and commissions would review the EIR, culminating in City Council action in July. Construction is projected to start in October with completion in October 2014.

Gordon Kovtun, principal of KCM Group that is managing the entitlement and construction process, said the start date could be delayed until April 2013 and still make the fall 2014 completion.

That date is crucial, because Jacobs wants to have the improvements completed before the centennial celebration begins Jan. 1, 2015, of the 1915 expo.

The full video and other details are available at the project's website, plazadepanama.org